Through The Lens by Shannon Dermott Read Free Book Online

Jenna made her way downstairs.  Turning back to Ethan, I
saw the starry-eyed look all boys got when looking at my sister.  She wasn’t
Allie, but she was beautiful.
    “So, you must be
Ethan,” she said, appraising him.
    “Yeah,” he said.  A
smirk formed on his face, and he looked at me. I didn’t have time to look away
before he caught the fact that I‘d been watching for his reaction to my
sister.   Smiling, I reminded myself there was nothing to be jealous about. 
Ethan wasn’t mine.
    “I’m Jenna,” she said, giving
him a little wave.
    “Ethan,” he said
confidently, the smirk still there.  My Dad took that time to tell Ethan to
have me home by midnight.  My sister fidgeted, bringing my attention back to
her. She mouthed, OMG, when Ethan’s back was turned  I merely rolled my eyes in
turn.
    Once we were finally
outside, I looked around for Ethan’s car but saw none. “Did you park down the
street?” I asked.
    “Nope,” he said,
tilting his head toward a killing machine.
    In front of me was freaking
motorcycle.  Everyone knows that TV and books glorify the death trap on wheels,
but I didn’t relish it.  Dad would have a heart attack if he saw it.  So I
leaped towards the machine like I really wanted to ride.
    “We should go then,” I
said a little too quickly.
    It was classic black
with shiny chrome, and I had to admit it was a bit sexy.  Ethan strapped on a
helmet to my head, and I had to mentally count to 100 so I could breathe with
him so close.
    He got on and said,
“Hop on.”
    “What about your
helmet?” I asked.
    “You’re wearing it,” he
said.
    “But,” I responded.
    “It’s cool.  It’s not
that long of a drive, and I don’t plan on wrecking.”
    Shaking my head, I
hesitated. My brain had caught up with my fear. “I don’t know,” I said,
painfully.
    Turning and dragging me
closer to the bike, he said, “Jess, I won’t ever let you fall.”  His words sent
unwanted shivers through me. 
    Then I was riding down
the streets of my neighborhood, with my arms wrapped around him. My camera was
strapped around my neck, wedged on the side of my body.  My arms were tightened
around his midsection when we took a turn.  My head rested on his back out of
fear.  It was like a waking dream because there no way was this happening.

Chapter
Eight
     
    When we slowed down long enough for me
to see the front of a monstrosity of a house, I wanted to  pinch myself. Obviously,
I was still dreaming.  This house—no, a better term was estate—sat perched far
from the street with an expansive lawn that looked freshly cut.  In fact, I
could smell the lawn like it was a paper air freshener pressed to my nose.
    The estate was built
with large gray stones and looked like it was three stories high.  Turning, we
followed the long driveway up to an open garage at the side where Ethan pulled
to a stop.  My house had a garage large enough for two cars.  This garage had
at least enough room for four, if not more.
    Holding his hand out, I
took the hint and got off using his arm for support.
    My mouth must have been
agape, because he stood before me now and said, “It’s a bit much, huh?”
    Trying to wrap my mind
around the fact that Ethan was loaded, I nodded.  “You’re just lucky,” I said,
weakly.
    “Definitely not,” he muttered
and led me up a short flight of stairs and into the immense house.
    Not sure what I
expected, maybe that the inside would be as dazzling as the outside.  What I
got was a hollow feeling.  Even with rubber-soled shoes, it felt like our footsteps
echoed along the long hallway.  Nothing was on the walls. Each room we passed
seemed just as devoid of anything that would suggest someone even lived in this
house  
    Ethan stopped and
gestured me inside a room.  It was large, just like the rest seemed, but this
one had a sofa and large screen TV. 
    We sat on the sofa. 
With nothing else to say and knowing something needed to be said, I